Amethi woman dies after alleging rape by doctors

Amethi (Uttar Pradesh), June 14

A 40-year-old woman who was allegedly raped and beaten by doctors and medical staff at a Lucknow hospital from where she was discharged, has died.

Family members of the deceased said she died on Sunday while being taken to another hospital in the state capital.

The daughter of the deceased had approached Union minister Smriti Irani, who was on a visit to Amethi on Saturday, after the police refused to pay heed to her.

Amethi District Magistrate Arun Kumar constituted a team on Irani's instructions to probe the allegations.

The woman said her mother was admitted to the Amethi Joint District Hospital, Gauriganj, on June 6, as she was unwell, but her condition deteriorated, and she was referred to the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow.

She alleged that her mother was initially kept in the emergency ward of the Lucknow hospital and then shifted to a bed on the fourth floor but no family members were allowed to visit her.

The daughter claimed that when she finally was allowed to meet her mother after repeated requests, she found out her condition was critical.

She alleged that her mother told her she was beaten up and raped by doctors and staff.

A spokesperson of the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute, however, refuted the allegations.

"No such allegation of rape of a woman has been reported and no complaint has been received. If there is a complaint, an inquiry will be conducted," he said.

The woman further said her mother was discharged from there on Friday night in an unconscious state and again admitted to the Gauriganj district hospital.

She informed Irani about the incident the next day, after which the MP spoke to the district magistrate, superintendent of police and the chief medical officer of Amethi.

Medical Superintendent of Amethi Joint District Hospital, Gauriganj, P.K. Upadhyay said the woman was being shifted to a hospital in Lucknow as she had developed black fungus, but she died on the way.

District Magistrate Arun Kumar said an inquiry committee was set up comprising the Gauriganj deputy collector, the deputy superintendent of police and the ACMO, and action will be taken after the committee hands in a report.

--IANS

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